Melamine cups: Migration of unwanted chemicals from melamine

"What kind of material should I choose for my child's tableware?"

At the Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals, we get many questions from worried parents in doubt about which type of tableware they should use for their child.

In recent years, there has been focus on the problematic bamboo-melamine plastic tableware which is not allowed in the EU.

But what are the alternatives? Parents often choose cups and plates of melamine without bamboo.

As a result, the Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals tested the migration of unwanted chemicals form 8 cups made of melamine intended for children.

Melamine tableware can be handy

For many years, melamine plastic has been a popular and handy material for children's tableware.

Melamine cups and plates do not break as easily as glass and porcelain and are available with lots of different colorful, child-friendly motives.

However, there is a risk of migration of unwanted chemicals from the melamine. Especially if it is used for hot meals and after some time when the melamine gets worn.

See all the tested products in the Danish test (link to Danish page)

The chemicals in melamine

Melamine and formaldehyde are the building blocks in melamine plastic, and can therefore be present in the plastic as residual chemicals from the production.

At the same time, the melamine plastic can also degrade over time due to wear or at high temperatures. When degrading, the unwanted substances can be released.

Melamine is suspected to be carcinogenic and to damage the kidney and bladder. Formaldehyde is also suspected to be carcinogenic.

See all the test from The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals

Wear and temperature increase the migration

In the test, the Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals washed the cups in the dishwasher 20 times and then used them for a hot drink. Then it was examined whether the cups released melamine and formaldehyde.

According to the EU legislation, the manufacturers should test the products as new.

However, as wear can increase the release of unwanted chemicals from melamine, we have washed the products in the dishwasher before the test.

“The EU legal requirements for the migration of chemical substances from plastics have been tightened. This is precisely because there have been examples of the release of melamine and formaldehyde from melamine plastic in some cases increasing over time. With the new rules, manufacturers must prove that the release decreases with time. We think this is a good idea, as migration from plastic tableware should not increase even after many times use. We advise consumers to discard tableware and other food contact material if it looks worn. For example, after many times in the dishwasher.” Mette Holm Biologist and Chief consultant at the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration

No cups in the test get the best chemical rating

In the test, 5 out of 8 cups release melamine. The release was tested by 3 measurements in a row for each cup.
The migration of melamine from the 5 cups was higher than the legal limit that applies to the 3rd measurement of new products.

Therefore, all these products get the lowest chemical rating.

All cups released formaldehyde. Here, however, the release from all products were below or at the limit for new products. However, in many products the release was not stable.

Overall, the test shows that children may be exposed to formaldehyde and melamine when eating or drinking from melamine tableware - especially if it is used for hot food and drink.

The release of melamine and formaldehyde from the individual cup is not in itself a problem. However, it contributes to ours and our children’s overall exposure to unwanted chemicals – the so-called cocktail effect - which is what scientists are worried about, and also the EU is looking into in their Chemicals Strategy.

The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemical's test methods

Advice on melamine

Do you want tableware for your child with the least risk of migrating chemicals in their food?

We recommend glass, porcelain or stainless steel. The same goes for other kitchen utensils.
If you want to use melamine during the period when your child is most likely to throw the dishes on the floor, avoid using it for hot food and drinks.
Never use melamine in the microwave.
If the melamine starts to wear out, discard it or don’t use it for food.
Never leave melamin pot spoons or other melamin utensils in the saucepan when cooking.

The Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals: Cups of melamine are not the safest choice

“If you as a consumer want to avoid unwanted chemicals in your and the children's food, children tableware made of melamine is not the best choice. The test shows that the cups after repeated washing release chemicals. In most cups, the migration was not stable and in more than half of the cups the migration was high. Our advice is to use tableware made of glass, porcelain or stainless steel instead. ”

Stine Müller, project manager, The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals

About the test

8 children's cups of melamine from the Danish market have been purchased and sent to a chemical laboratory.

In the laboratory, the cups were washed 20 times in a dishwasher on a standard dishwashing program.

After washing, the cups were examined for the migration of formaldehyde and melamine to 3% acetic acid stored in the cups for 2 hours at 70 degrees.

The release from each cup was tested by three measurements in a row.

3% acetic acid and 2 hours at 70 degrees are the prescribed test conditions for this type of products.

However, repeated washing before testing is not part of the rules for melamine tableware.

The release of chemicals from melamine can increase as the product ages and gets worn. We wanted to investigate how wear and tear in the form of repeated washing influence the migration.
Out of the 8 melamine cups tested:
- 5 products released melamine. They all got the lowest chemical rating, the C-mark.
- 3 products did not release melamine, only formaldehyde. These 3 products get the average chemical rating, the B-mark.
Release of melamine

5 cups released melamine.

At least 1 or more of the 3 measurements from each cup was above the limit value that applies to the 3rd measurement for new products.

The release of melamine varied from 2.5 to 5.4 milligrams per kilogram and the release of melamine was not stable between the 3 measurements of each cup.

The legal migration limit for new products is 2.5 milligrams per kilogram.

Release of formaldehyde

All 8 products released formaldehyde.

The release of formaldehyde was in all cases at or below the legal limit for new products.

The release of formaldehyde varied from 2.1 to 15 milligrams per kilogram. In several products, the migration was not stable between the 3 measurements.

The migration limit for new products is 15 milligrams per kilogram.
Both melamine and formaldehyde are building blocks in the manufacturing of melamine plastic.

Therefore, there may be residuals of free melamine in the plastic that can migrate to the food. But melamine can also be released if there is a breakdown of the melamine plastic due to eg wear or high temperatures.

Suspected carcinogenic and problematic in the environment

Melamine can affect selected organs such as the bladder and kidney.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has categorized it as possibly carcinogenic in humans.

Within EU, a harmonized classification of melamine as a suspected carcinogen is proposed. However, the Commission has not yet approved and harmonized the classification.

In addition, melamine is also problematic for the environment, where it is not degraded but instead it is mobile and therefore widespread throughout the environment.

Legal requirements for kitchen tableware

For plastic including melamine plastic intended for food contact, there is a migration limit for melamine.

The migration limit is 2,5 milligram melamine per kilogram of food.

The migration should be tested under conditions relevant to the expected use of the product in question. Typically, the migration from melamine tableware are tested after 2 hours at 70 degrees.

From September 2022, the release of melamine must also be stable in 3 consecutive measurements. This is to avoid products where the release of the substance increases over time.
Both melamine and formaldehyde are building blocks in the manufacturing of melamine plastic.

Therefore, there may be residual formaldehyde in the finished plastic that can migrate to the food. But the formaldehyde can also be released if the plastic degrades, for example due to wear or at higher temperatures.

Suspected carcinogen

Formaldehyde is classified in the EU as a possible carcinogen and is suspected of damaging our DNA.

In addition, it is also allergenic.

Legal requirements for kitchen tableware

For plastic including melamine plastic intended for food contact, there is a migration limit for formaldehyde.

The limit is 5 milligrams formaldehyde per kilogram food.

The release should be tested under conditions relevant to the use of the product in question. Typically, the migration from melamine tableware are tested after 2 hours at 70 degrees.

From September 2022, the release of formaldehyde must also be stable in 3 consecutive measurements. This requirement is to ensure that the release does not increase over time.

What the companies say

Done by Deer informs that the tested product was imported into the EU before March 2021, and therefore the latest stability requirements do not apply to this product, which is marketed in accordance with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration's transitional provisions.

They also informs that the test result from the test done by the Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals shows that the 3rd measurement is lower than the limit value for both formaldehyde and melamine, as required in the previous rules.
“At Sebra, we test, via external, acknowledged laboratories, all our melamine according to the methods and procedures required by law before import to Denmark.

Based on the Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals results, we do not find that anything certain can be concluded about the stability of our melamine.

The test performed does not meet the requirements for regulatory control (which prescribes testing of three copies), and it does not show a general increase in the migration of formaldehyde between the 1st and 3rd measurement. Therefore, we assess that the test is associated with uncertainty and is not representative of our product.

Furthermore, all the results on formaldehyde migration are below the permitted limit of 15 mg/kg.

Therefore, we do not believe that the Danish Consumer Council Think Chemicals, on the basis of this sample, can or should conclude a clear answer in relation to the migration of formaldehyde. "
“The test carried out by the Danish Consumer Council Think showed a result that, if representative, indicated a problem with the stability of the plastic, despite the fact that the cup meets the regulatory requirements for contamination and stability.

Therefore, after receiving the test result, we performed a similar test of a similar batch of smallpox in an accredited laboratory.

This test shows that the tested product is stable and complies with the requirements for migration even after 20 machine dishes.

We do not rule out that the Consumer Council Think's test result is correct for the topics examined, but it is based on individual analyzes and not on the average considerations that the authorities use in their assessment. Here, 5 items are tested and the average result is used. The limit values have a large safety factor built in and a small exceedance of the limit values on individual items will not pose any risk to consumers.

The production of melamine products that comply with the EU's requirements for contamination and stability is a process that requires a great deal of knowledge about the materials and production processes and great care. RICE has regular suppliers of melamine products and has great confidence in these and their ability to produce stable products that comply with regulatory requirements. And this is confirmed is the case by our latest test. "